Another four local projects have benefited from the most recent round of funding in the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund main grant scheme.

Friends of St Conan’s Kirk have been awarded £7,000 towards the cost of restoring the library at the Kirk to allow its use once again as a small meeting room for local groups and for it to be a potential location for documents and archives of the local history association. St Conan’s Kirk is a Grade 1 Listed Building and the Friends formed from a strong local desire to save and improve the building and now encourage local participations of all age groups to embed the building in local activities.

Dalmally Historical Association will receive £5,000 towards archaeological fees for a more detailed excavation of the Clan Gregor Tigh Mor site in Glen Strae. This site has now been confirmed as an important, previously unknown mediaeval settlement and bloomery (a type of furnace once used for smelting iron) which has been dated to 13th to 15th centuries. This is of national significance as very few mediaeval settlements have survived due to overbuilding and there is also the presence of an iron bloomery which predates the earliest known in the area by more than a century and a half. Archaeologists from Northlight Heritage, who are the professional partners in this project, advise that the site requires a further two weeks work to permit a proper understanding and wider awareness of the whole site.

With an award of £1,000 Kilchrenan Village Hall will be able to replace some of their chairs and also purchase chairs for people with reduced mobility. The electric coin meters for the hall heating will be replaced as well to allow the new £1 coins to be used.

Dalavich Social and Recreational Club have been awarded £6,000 to replace and purchase chairs to enable them to hire the Dalavich Community Centre out for social events, weddings, charitable events and celebrations.

These new chairs will make the community hall more attractive freshening up the décor in the hall, helping encourage ticket sales for charitable and social events organised by Dalavich Social Club and Dalavich Improvement Group, such as ceilidhs, Hogmanay parties, dinner dances, live music nights and quiz nights.

Further information on the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund can be found on the Carraig Gheal website. The next round of funding will open on 1st November 2017.